In The News -

President Bush said there was no proof tying Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11 attacks, but said the President: “There’s no question that Saddam Hussein had Al Qaeda ties.”

A Spanish judge has indicted Osama bin Laden and 34 other terror suspects on terrorism charges – alleging that operatives in Spain played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

A new audiotape that sounds like Saddam Hussein calls on Iraqis to escalate their attacks on U.S.-led occupation using every means possible.

A new Iraqi army debuts – 750 strong and growing. It’s the first battalion trained by the U.S. – and the first to have its own officers… Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Iraq this week and will meet with emerging Iraqi leaders to discuss the next phase of their transition.

Hurricane Isabel – now in Canada – is blamed for 18 deaths between the Carolinas to the mid-Atlantic states.

Aqila Hashimi – a member of Iraq’s Governing Council is seriously wounded by a gunman – who ambushed her.

Latvians vote overwhelmingly to join the European Union, but the government was thrown into turmoil when one party bolted the ruling coalition.

A U.S. soldier shoots dead a rare Bengal tiger at the Baghdad Zoo after the animal injured another soldier who was trying to feed it through the cage bars. The tiger bit his finger off, so the other soldier shot it dead.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina – Thousands of Bosnians and their guest of honor – Bill Clinton – dedicate the first official memorial to the more then 7,000 victims of the bloodiest atrocity in Europe since WWII.

Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark said that he would never have voted for war in Iraq – 24 hours after he told reporters he probably would have supported the congressional resolution authorizing the U.S. to invade.

Chris Lehane resigns as communications director for Sen. John F. Kerry’s campaign, Kerry is considered by many to have fallen behind Howard Dean as the Democrat front-runner for President.

Violating its own privacy policy, JetBlue Airways gave 5 million passenger itineraries to a Defense department contractor that used the information as part of a study seeking ways to identify high risk airline customers.

Calvin Willis – a Louisiana man, gets released from the state penitentiary after spending about 25 years behind bars. DNA evidence now concludes he did not commit the crime – a rape on a 10-year-old girl.

The House votes to permanently ban all taxes on Internet access and nine states must repeal existing access taxes.

Passing – Garner Ted Armstrong – known as the voice of “The World Tomorrow.” He was 73.

Consumer prices were up .3% in August – thanks to an uptick at the gasoline pump.

Vice President Dick Cheney said that the United States had “turned the corner” to economic recovery and he expected gross domestic product growth next year to be 4% or better.

Murder suspect - Aaron Michael Hammer – a member of the Los Angeles Crips – is arrested in connection with the shooting murder of Yetunde Price – eldest sister of Serena and Venus Williams.

Richard Grasso – NYSE Chairman steps down over a growing outcry over his $140-million compensation package.

Business/Economy News – September 15, 2003

AOL Time Warner is no more – as of this week – AOL is dumped – and now it’s just plain Time Warner.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. buys the Structure name from Limited Brands for $10 million. Sears wants to develop a men’s line of clothing under the name.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announces that his foundation will donate $51 million to create 67 small academically rigorous public high schools in poor neighborhoods.

Entertainment /Celebrity News – September 15, 2003

Comedian Margaret Cho has a new line of clothes for full-figured woman – a line called “High Class Cho.”

20th-Century Fox Film Corp. and Paramount Pictures Corp sue Tritton Technologies because they’ve been distributing a software program that cracks the technology used to prevent copying of movies.

Passing – Actor/singer Sheb Wolley (82).

Music News – September 15, 2003

Rapper Eminem is sued by a 70-year-old grandmother for allegedly using a clip from a composition by her late husband – Ronald Stein on a song called “Pigs Go Home.” On it, Stein is not listed as the composer.

Apple is releasing “Let It Be” – in its original form before Phil Spector mixed the version we all know.

Pop culture phenom Hilary Duff – September 2003

Already on TV, movies, books and clothes and now – recording artist as she’s #1 on the pop album harts with “Metamorphosis.” Look for her Hawaii concert to air on the WB next week!